Between Oil and Thread

Oil painting has long been seen as “fine art” and displayed in museums by famous artists, while embroidery and stitching are often thought of as craft or “low art.” By bringing these materials together, I want to challenge these outdated ideas and show how they can work side by side.

I create realistic portraits from photos of my friends, aiming to capture their significance, much like classical paintings. After painting, I enhance the pieces with embroidery, beads, and stitching to add texture and depth.

Inspired by old masters like Michelangelo, Fragonard and Millais, modern realist painters such as Jeremy Mann and Richard Estes, and contemporary textile artists like Kathrin Marchenko and Narrett, I blend various materials and histories to create art that is both familiar and surprising.

Federica Bocca